Police arrested a man on Tuesday after he sprayed U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar with a foul-smelling liquid during a town hall event in Minneapolis, authorities said.
Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, was not injured. A security guard immediately restrained the man and took him to the ground, according to a Reuters witness and video from the event. Police said the suspect was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault.
The incident occurred as Omar was criticizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, calling for Noem’s resignation following the recent shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis amid an immigration enforcement surge.
“ICE cannot be reformed, it cannot be rehabilitated, we must abolish ICE for good, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment,” Omar said to applause moments before the disruption.
Police said the man, who had been seated in the front row, stepped forward and sprayed Omar with the contents of what they described as a syringe, telling her, “You must resign.” Omar briefly stepped toward the man with her hand raised before he was subdued.
After a short pause, Omar resumed speaking, declining medical attention and saying she only needed a napkin. Her office later confirmed she was unharmed. A Reuters witness said the liquid smelled of ammonia and caused minor throat irritation.
Forensic investigators collected evidence at the scene, Minneapolis police said.
“I learned at a young age, you don’t give in to threats,” Omar told the audience after the incident. “You look them in the face and you stand strong.”
Omar has frequently been targeted by political attacks from President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized her publicly and on social media, including remarks referencing her Somali background.
The incident comes amid a rise in threats against U.S. lawmakers. U.S. Capitol Police said Tuesday that threat assessment cases increased for the third consecutive year in 2025, rising nearly 58% from 2024. The agency reported investigating 14,938 cases involving threats or concerning behavior directed at members of Congress, their families, staff, or the Capitol complex, up from 9,474 the previous year.
